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Girl's body, bloody note found in Long Beach parking lot

by José Martinez

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A girl's bloody body was found in a Long Beach parking lot on Saturday morning, next to a man who police are saying is her guardian. He has since been arrested on suspicion of murder. Screenshot from KTLA report

Long Beach police are investigating the murder of a nine-year-old girl whose bloody body was found in a parking lot near a church off the 405 freeway on Saturday.

The L.A. Times reports that police found the girl's body in the lot off Willow Street and Woodruff Avenue after a passing pedestrian called it in around 11 a.m. She was found next to a man who was alive but suffering from self-inflicted wounds, according to the police.

The man might be her father or stepfather, police said.

KTLA reports that Nancy Eomurian was the caller, who said she called police after realizing "something didn't seem right." She saw the man get up and walk away from the scene, but he is now in police custody.

He has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

The Times also says that police are looking at a note found on a wall next to where the girl's body was that appears to be written in blood. KTLA says police consider it to be evidence in the case.

Long Beach police would not name the man, nor would they say if a weapon was found at the scene. According to the Times, police spokeswoman Nancy Pratt said investigators are trying to pin down a motive.

A prayer vigil organized by some nearby community members was held for the girl on Saturday night.